Albert E. Martinez, Sex Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2014

State: Pennsylvania
Category: Human Trafficking|Sex Crimes
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/chambersburg-man-indicted-sex-trafficking-minors" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

In a shocking case of exploitation, Albert E. Martinez, a 34-year-old resident of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted for sex trafficking of minors. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg on an unspecified date.

According to the indictment, Martinez allegedly recruited and transported females between the ages of 16 and 18 to engage in commercial sex acts in motels across six states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, and Rhode Island.

The indictment alleges that Martinez rented motel rooms and posted ‘escort’ advertisements and photographs on a website from October 2013 through September 2014.

Martinez was arrested by the FBI and the Chambersburg Police Department on an unspecified date, and was arraigned in Harrisburg before Chief Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson. He was ordered temporarily detained pending his detention hearing.

The maximum sentence for the charge is up to life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment on the offenses involving a minor. Martinez also faces a fine of up to $250,000.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information regarding the case is urged to contact the Harrisburg office of the FBI at 717-232-8686.

The indictment serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of sex trafficking and the need for continued vigilance in addressing this issue. As the case against Martinez unfolds, the community can expect to see more information emerge about the scope and severity of this crime.

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